Nursing 251 Exam #2 Abdominal Assessment Questions
With Complete Solutions
abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder indicates what?
Correct Answer spleen issues
Decreased bowel sounds; peritonitis, paralytic ileus is called
what? Correct Answer hypoactivity
How do you document bowel sounds? Correct Answer bowel
sounds present in all 4 quadrants
How do you inspect symmetry in the abdomen? Correct
Answer have the patient tighten their abdomen muscles (they
can lift their head and shoulders into a crunching position)
How do you measure abdominal girth on a patient? Correct
Answer Measure with tape and mark parallel lines for
subsequent readings
How do you percuss the liver borders? Correct Answer start
below umbilics, percuss towards the liver, determine the upper
and lower borders
How do you position the patient when palpating the abdomen?
Correct Answer muscles should be relaxed, supine with knees
up, breath slowly
How do you test for shifting dullness on a patient? Correct
Answer Percuss from umbilicus to dullness
Ask client to turn to side
, Percuss and note difference in borders of dullness
How do you test the fluid wave on a patient? Correct Answer
Client presses edges of hands firmly at midline, examiner taps
flank sharply
Feel for transmission of wave on opposite flank (late finding;
may be false positive)
How long do you listen to bowel movements before stating they
are absent? Correct Answer 5 minutes
If the patient has pain in a specific area of the abdomen, when
should you palpate it? Correct Answer last
Increased bowel sounds; early intestinal obstruction,
gastroenteritis, hunger is called what? Correct Answer
hyperactivity
Loud, prolonged gurgling; stomach growling is called what?
Correct Answer borborygmi
Obstruction of the intestine due to paralysis of the intestinal
muscles, blockage of the colon Correct Answer Paralytic ileus
Pain that is felt at sites that are innervated at the same spinal
levels as the original organ and develops as the pain becomes
more intense
Correct Answer referred pain
With Complete Solutions
abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder indicates what?
Correct Answer spleen issues
Decreased bowel sounds; peritonitis, paralytic ileus is called
what? Correct Answer hypoactivity
How do you document bowel sounds? Correct Answer bowel
sounds present in all 4 quadrants
How do you inspect symmetry in the abdomen? Correct
Answer have the patient tighten their abdomen muscles (they
can lift their head and shoulders into a crunching position)
How do you measure abdominal girth on a patient? Correct
Answer Measure with tape and mark parallel lines for
subsequent readings
How do you percuss the liver borders? Correct Answer start
below umbilics, percuss towards the liver, determine the upper
and lower borders
How do you position the patient when palpating the abdomen?
Correct Answer muscles should be relaxed, supine with knees
up, breath slowly
How do you test for shifting dullness on a patient? Correct
Answer Percuss from umbilicus to dullness
Ask client to turn to side
, Percuss and note difference in borders of dullness
How do you test the fluid wave on a patient? Correct Answer
Client presses edges of hands firmly at midline, examiner taps
flank sharply
Feel for transmission of wave on opposite flank (late finding;
may be false positive)
How long do you listen to bowel movements before stating they
are absent? Correct Answer 5 minutes
If the patient has pain in a specific area of the abdomen, when
should you palpate it? Correct Answer last
Increased bowel sounds; early intestinal obstruction,
gastroenteritis, hunger is called what? Correct Answer
hyperactivity
Loud, prolonged gurgling; stomach growling is called what?
Correct Answer borborygmi
Obstruction of the intestine due to paralysis of the intestinal
muscles, blockage of the colon Correct Answer Paralytic ileus
Pain that is felt at sites that are innervated at the same spinal
levels as the original organ and develops as the pain becomes
more intense
Correct Answer referred pain
